Weft stop motion



May 16, 1961 Filed May 5, 1959 KQNSFORMQR R. A. DUPRE 2,984,265

WEFT STOP MOTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Roland IJZDJ OJ'Q ATTORNEYS May 16, 1961 R. A. DUPRE WEFT STOP MOTION 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1959 INVENTOR. 190 [an a! v4. Dz vrATTORNEYS May 16, 1961 R, A. DUPRE 2,984,265

WEFT STOP MOTION Filed May 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

I F0 lanclfl. B19010? BY 74 flww /JMzw ATTORNEYS May 16, 1961 R. A.DUPRE 2,984,265

WEFT STOP MOTION Filed May 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Ralmwdvqflz pre ATTORNEYS United States Patent 6 WEFT STOP MOTION Roland A.Dupre, Ashton, R1. (27 Kent St., Cumberland, RI.)

Filed May 5, 1959, Ser. No. 811,153

6 Claims. (Cl. 139-371) This invention relates to a weft stop motion fora textile weaving loom, particularly a loom for making narrow fabric orwoven web material.

In a so-called narrow fabric loom of the type herein concerned, aplurality of webs are simultaneously woven spaced from each other alongthe loom. The loom has a lay which carries a plurality of weft carriersor shuttles which lay a weft back and forth across warps to beinterlaced one with the other in a known manner. There is a so-calledshuttle block for each shuttle and there is an extra shuttle block ateach end of the lay. The shuttle blocks are spaced from each other andare provided with a guide groove by which the shuttles are guided backand forth in their travel from one shuttle block to an adjacent shuttleblock. The warp threads for each web are positioned in the spacesbetween shuttle blocks, and the shuttles, in being moved or oscillatedback and forth, pass through the sheds of the warps and lay wefts acrossthe warps to be interlaced therewith, the warps being shedded at eachpass of the shuttles across the warps, the shuttles being held or boxedin the shuttle blocks during the shedding of the warps and the beatingup of the last laid weft.

It is desirable and advantageous in some instances to bring the loom torest just prior to the weft supply of the shuttles becoming exhausted soas to provide for doffing all the shuttles at the same time which allowsthreading of the new wefts by merely attaching the leading end of thenew weft to the trailing end of the old weft to be pulled therebythrough the guide eyes of the shuttle. It is equally desirable to stopthe loom upon breakage of individual wefts.

An object of the present invention is to provide a weft stop motion fora narrow fabric loom which is so constructed as to stop the loom uponthe breaking or exhaustion of the supply of any one shuttle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a weft stop motion for anarrow fabric loom which will be electrically actuated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrically actuatedstop motion for a narrow fabric loom in which electrical contacts willbe carried by the shuttle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a weft stop motion for anarrow fabric loom in which an auxiliary knock-off device operatedthrough the stop motion will be adapted to be attached to the shiftlever of the loom and electrically actuated to move the shift lever soas to operate the loom knock-01f device to stop the loom.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of a fragmentary portion of a narrowfabric loom embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the loom shift lever actuating meansof Figure 1, shown on a larger scale;

6 ice Figure 3 is a front elevation view of a narrow loom shuttleshowing parts of the weft stop motion fixed thereto;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of Fig.3;

Figure 5 is a front elevatio'nal view of two shuttle blocks withshuttles therein;

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 with the shuttles in a differentposition;

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Figure 6 showing afragmental portion of the block and on substantially larger scale thanshown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a rear view of one of the blocks illustrating the spring formoving the contact arm into engagement;

Figure 9 is a fragmental view similar to Figure 8 but illustrating amodified form of means for swinging the contact arm;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of the shuttle;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of the modified form;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of the modified form; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of electrical contactmeans.

Referring to Figure l in more detail, 10 designates generally a narrowfabric loom, only that portion of which is shown as is believednecessary for an understanding of the present invention. The loom is ofknown manufacture and has a usual reciprocating lay 11 which carries aplurality of spaced shuttle blo'cks 12 in which the shuttles are boxedat the end of each throw thereof across the warps. Each block has theusual pair of guide tracks 13 and 13 (also Figures 5 and 6) for guidingthe shuttle 14 from one shuttle block to the other. A so-called loomreed 15 through which warps (not shown) are passed, is positioned in thespace between shuttle blocks. The shuttle blocks are similar to eachother and are attached to the lay in a known way. In the presentinstance (see Figures 5 and 6) the guide tracks 13, 13 extend on the arcof a circle. The guide tracks 13 extend from one upper side edge of theblock to the lower opposite side edge thereof, and the track 13 extendsfrom the upper opposite side edge of the block to the lower oppositeside edge thereof. The two tracks 13, 13 intersect each other centrallyof the shuttle block. All the shuttles are moved or oscillated in unisonback and forth between adjacent shuttle blocks. The shuttles will bemoved from the track 13 of one block and into the track 13' of the nextadjacent shuttle block. At the next throw or movement of the shuttle,the same will be moved from the tracks 13' to initial tracks 13. It maybe here mentioned that during the oscillating of the shuttles, the warpsare in a shedded relation and the shuttles pass through the shed and laya weft across the warps to be interlaced therewith in a known way, thewarps being shedded at each pass of the shuttles across the warps. Theshuttles are oscillated back and forth by means of a gear wheel 16mounted on each shuttle block for free rotation and are engaged by areciprocating toothed rack bar indicated generally 17 (see Figure 1).The shuttles are of known construction each having an arcuate bodyportion 18 and a guide groove 19 (see Figure 4) which interengages withthe undercut tracks 13, 13' of the shuttle block. Each shuttle isprovided with an arcuate toothed segment 20 which is engaged by saidgear Wheel 16 and oscillated thereby from one shuttle block to theother. The weft yarn Y is packaged in quill form 21 (see Figures 3 and10) which is rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft 22 which isdetachably secured to the shuttle.

The yarn Y is led from the quill 21 to pass through a centering eye 23thence to tension applying eyes 24, 25 respectively and out throughguide eye 26. Eye 24 is attached to one end of a pull spring 27 whichextends through an opening 28 in the end portion 29 of the shuttle andis anchored at the other end thereof to the bottom of the shuttle inknown way. The eye 25 is similarly attached to one end of a pull spring30 which extends through an opening 31 in the opposite end portion 32 ofthe shuttle, and the other end of the spring being secured to the bottomof the shuttle. It may be here mentioned that spring 34) is made to beweaker than spring 27 so that under pull of the yarn, it will yield to agreater extent than spring 27. Free rotation of the quill 21 is blockedby means of a pivoted arm or feeler 33 which is provided with a plate 34that extends into engagement with the quill '21. The feeler 33 is springpressed into engagement with quill 21 by means of a spring 35 having oneend thereof secured to the shuttle body and the other end thereofextending into engagement with feeler 33 as at 36. Thus the feeler willswing upward and follow the decrease in diameter of the quill.

According to the present invention, I mount a pair of electric contacts'37, 38 (Fig. 4) on opposite sides of spring 38 and spaced therefrom.Contact 37 is connected through a wire 39 to an electrical contact 4tsecured to the face of the shuttle and substantially flush therewith.Contact 38 is connected through a wire 41 to an electrical contact 42also secured to the face of the shuttle to be substantially flushtherewith and spaced from contact 49. An electrical conducting plate 43is secured to the eye 25 and is of an extent to bridge contacts 37 and38. Since spring 27 is stronger than spring 30, plate 43 will benormally held out of contact by the pull of spring 27 acting throughyarn Y. Upon breakage or exhaustion of the yarn Y, plate 43 under urgeof spring 39 will be moved into bridging engagement with contacts 37 and38.

A second pair of contacts 37 and 38 are provided and are mounted on theshuttle (see Figure 4) to be at a location to be engaged and bridged bythe feeler 33. Contact 37 is electrically connected to contact 37 bywire 39' and contact 38' is electrically connected to contact 38 by 41'.The feeler 33 has sweeping engagement with contact 37 and upon the quillreaching a predetermined diameter, predetermined by the spacing betweencontacts 37 and 33, the feeler 41 will bridge contacts 37' and 38.Contact 38 is made adjustable so as to provide the proper spacing fromcontact 37 to predetermine the diameter of quill at which bridging ofthe contacts will be made.

in order to supply the electrical circuit from the shuttle to theframework of the machine and the control mechanism, I have provided acontact arm 44, see Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, which is pivoted on thehollow shaft 45 which extends through the center of the gear 16. Thisarm 44 is made up of two portions 46 and 47 insulated from each other,the portion 46 being in a position to contact the strip 4?; and theportion 47 being in position to contact the strip 42. An insulated wire74 extends from the arm 46 while the arm 47 makes its Contact throughthe shaft 45 with a wire 73 leading from the shaft in a circuit which isfurther explained. The shaft 45 is provided with a short lever arm 45while a spring 80 engages this arm at the rear of the block (also' seeFig. 8) and is connected to this arm 45 and anchored as at 81 so as totend to swing the arm to a vertical position. Thus, as the shuttleswings through the slot and contacts the arm, it will swing the arm fromoff the vertical posi tion as shown in Figure or 6 to provide a goodwiping contact between the strips 40 and 42 and the arms 46 and 47. Insome cases instead of using a spring such as 80 a weight 82 (Fig. 9) maybe suspended from arm 83 affixed to the shaft to supply the sametendency to swing the arm to vertical position as did the spring andcause the contact to be formed between the contact arm 44 and theshuttle. The circuit will be completed as hereinafter described. I alsofind that I need an arm 44 at only alternate blocks 12 in thisarrangement.

In Figures 10, l1 and 12 a modified arrangement is shown. In Figure 10instead of bands extending across the shuttle as at 40 and 42, Iprovided metallic ribs. 40 and 42' extending the full width of theshuttle. The wire 39 in this case is connected to the rib 40 and thewire 41 is connected to the metal rib 42'. Other than this, the shuttleis the same as shown in Figure 3.

A difierent form of electrical takeoff is provided, however. From theshuttle and as shown in Figures 11 and 12 I have provided a pair ofspring arms and 86 which are set into the block 12 along a path of theguide slot 13 so that as the shuttle 14 with its metal ribs 40 and 42'passes along the slot, it will contact these arms 85 and 86; that is,the rib 40 will contact arm 85 and the rib 42 will contact the arm 86.The connection from the arm 86 will be directly to the hollow metalshaft 45 of the gear 16 by wire and the connection from the arm 85 willbe by means of an insulated conductor or wire 91 which will pass throughthe hollow shaft of gear 16 as shown at 74 in Figure 7, while a leadfrom the shaft as shown in 73 may be taken off for the other part of thecircuit. Thus, by using two spring arms 85 and 86 set into the block 12,I may provide for the electric circuit being transferred from theshuttle to the block.

This same sort of a contact device is provided for each of the blocksalong the guide groove 13, but no contact is made with these arms whenthe shuttle is in the position shown in Figure ll. Thus the stop motionis elfective only when the shuttle is at one end of its travel ratherthan both ends as shown in the arrangement of Figures 5 to 8 inclusive.

The loom is provided with the usual shift lever which is an elongatedbar 48 (Figs. 1 and 2), which extends longitudinally of the loom and ismanually operable to actuate the loom knock-off mechanism (not shown) tobring the loom to rest or to actuate the mechanism to start the loom inoperation. The knock-off mechanism is operated through a linkagedesignated generally 50 which is supported on a bracket 51 attached tothe frame 52 of the loom at one end thereof. The bar 48 is pivotallyconnected to said linkage as at 53 and is adapted to" rock said linkagein one direction, when the bar is moved towards the left as viewed inFigure 1, to actuate the knock-off mechanism to start the loom inoperation. To actuate the mechanism to stop the loom, the linkage 50 isrocked in the other direction by moving the bar 48 toward the right. Inaccordance with the invention I provide an auxiliary knock-off mechanismfor automatically actuating the loom knock-01f mechanism. Thisco'mprises a suitable support 54 (see Figure 2), which is attached atone of its ends to the loom frame 52 at a location above the bar 48 andadjacent thereto. A pair of links 55, 56 are pivotally connected as at57 to each other at one end 57' thereof. The link 55 is pivotallyconnected at the outer end of the support 54 by means of a fixed pivot58 and the link 56 is pivotally connected to a pivot pin 59 whichextends through a longitudinally extending slot 60 in the support 54.The pivot pin 59 is free to move along slot 60 and is spring urged to bemoved toward pivot pin 58 by means of a pull spring 61 which isadjustably secured at one end to a bracket 62 fixed to support 54, andat the other end thereof to a bracket 63 attached to the pivot pin 59.When the links are moved to the position shown in Figure 2, the pivots57, 58, and 59 will be in line with each other and the pull of thespring 61 will be centrally of said pivots and said links will be lockedin position or the pivot 57 may be slightly below such line andsuppo'rted by the solenoid plunger. Upon the said pivoted ends 57 beingmoved upwardly out of line the spring will be free to move the pin 59along the slot 65) toward pin 58. The links 55, 56 and support 54 may beconsidered to be a trigger mechanism operable to charge and releasespring 61 which later operation is performed by a solenoid 64 which issecured to the support 54. The plunger 65 thereof extends through asuitable opening 66 in the bottom wall 54 and engages against the linkswhen in the locked position thereof. Upon activating the solenoid, theplunger 65 will be moved outwardly and push the links out of line andthus release the spring to move pivot pin 59 along slot 60 as previouslydescribed.

A connecting link 67 having a longitudinal slot 68 is pivotally securedto bar 48 as at 69 and receives in this slot the pivot 59. When the loomis in motion, the bar will be at the position shown in Figure 2 and thepin 59 will be engaged at the outer end of slot 68. If for some reasonit becomes necessary to manually move bar 48 towards the left as seen inFig. 2, so as to stop the loom, it will be seen the link 67 will merelyride on pivot pin 59 and will not affect the locked position of links 55and 56. However, upon contraction of spring 61, the link 67 will becarried along with pivot pin 59 and pull bar 48 toward the left to rocklinkage 50 to stop position and bring the loom to rest as previouslymentioned. Upon moving bar 48 in a direction to set the loom in motion,the pivot 59 will be pulled along slot 60 by link 67 and position thelinks 55, 56 in line with each other.

The electric circuits for the stop motion is shown generally in Figure 1and may be traced from the transformer 70 through wire 71 to thesolenoid 64 thence from the solenoid through common wire 72 to whichcontacts 47 of shuttle blocks contact arm are connected through wires 73and from contacts 46 through wires 74 to common wire 75 to transformer70. Electrical energy is supplied to transformer '70 through wires 76,77 leading from a suitable power source.

It will be apparent from the above that I may use the stop motion whichI have provided by equipping each block and each shuttle as aboveindicated with the stop motion operating either by a reduction of thequill to a certain size contacts 33, 37, 38, or by breaking of the yarn,or exhaustion of the yarn through contact plate 43 and strips 37 and 38.

In some instances, instead of utilizing the stop motion controlled bythe feeler member 34 and arm 33 with contacts 37 and 38 these may becompletely eliminated and all of the shuttles and blocks equipped withthe other stop motion controlled by plate 43 and contacts 37 and 38. Inwhich event the loom will stop when any one quill is exhausted and allof the quills may then be replaced by drawing in the yarn prior toexhaustion in all of the shuttles except the one which first exhausts,so that a time saving may be effected in reloading and a maximum use ofthe yarn on the quills provided.

In some instances, however, one shuttle and block may be equipped withthe stop motion controlled by the feeler 34 and the arm contact 33 andcontacts 37' and 38', which will be so set that when a certain diameterof quill occurs the loom will stop and all the quills may be reloadedprior to the exhaustion of any quill. In this event, a minimuminstallation is provided by a single block and shuttle so equipped butall shuttles may be reloaded by drawing in the yarn. Maximum use of theyarn, however, in such case may not be provided.

I claim:

1. A weft yarn stop motion for a loom having a knockoff mechanism, meansincluding a solenoid for operating said mechanism, a reciprocating lay,a shuttle having an opening, a weft yarn supply in said opening, saidlay having spaced shuttle blocks for guiding said shuttle, each of saidblocks being provided with a pair of electric contacts connected to saidsolenoid, said shuttle having spaced electric conducting meansengageable with said contacts upon said shuttle being boxed in saidshuttle blocks, said shuttle carrying a first pair of normally opencontacts connected to said means and means to close said shuttlecontacts upon breakage in the weft yarn, and a second pair of normallyopen contacts connected to said means, said shuttle having a f-eelermember carried by an arm extending into engagement with the weft yarnsupply constituting one of said second pair of contacts and a contact onthe wall of said opening and in the path of movement of said arm to beengaged by the arm upon a predetermined decrease in said yarn supply tocause said arm to bridge and close the said second pair of contacts,said contacts on said wall being adjustable as to position topredetermine the point of contact.

2. A weft yarn stop motion for a narrow fabric loom having a layprovided with a plurality of spaced shuttle blocks having shuttleguiding tracks, shuttles guided in said tracks carrying spaced contactson their face, a contact arm on each block movable on an axis at rightangles to the path of movement of the shuttle and in such path andengaged and swung by said shuttle upon a shuttle being moved into theblock said shuttle contacts engaging the contact arm.

3. A weft yarn stop motion for a narrow fabric loom having a layprovided with a plurality of spaced shuttle blocks having shuttleguiding tracks, shuttles guided in said tracks carrying spaced contactson their face, a gear in each block for reciprocating the shuttle, acontact arm on each block swingable about a pivot coaxial with said gearfor engaging said contacts upon a shuttle being moved into the block.

4. A weft yarn stop motion for a narrow fabric loom having a layprovided with a plurality of spaced shuttle blocks having crossingshuttle guiding tracks, shuttles guided in said tracks carrying spacedcontacts on their face, a pivoted contact arm on each block for engagingsaid contacts upon a shuttle being moved into the block from eitherdirection.

5. In a weft yarn stop motion, a shuttle having an opening, a weft yarnsupply in said opening, a spring pressed arm carrying a shoe forengaging the surface of said supply, and contact means comprising acontact on the wall of said opening and in the path of movement of saidarm and engaged by said arm, when said supply is at a determined pointof exhaustion, said contact being adjustable as to position topredetermine the point of contact.

6. In a Weft yarn stop motion for a narrow fabric loom, a shuttle offrame form having an open center with a weft yarn supply therein, saidshuttle having a bore in the frame, tension means for leading the yarnfrom the shuttle including an eye through which the yarn passes, acoiled spring connected to said eye and housed in said bore, spacedcontacts on said frame at either side of the entrance to said borespaced from the spring emerging from said bore, means to stop the loomcomprising an electric circuit connected to said contacts, said eyecarrying a bridging plate to engage said contacts and complete saidcircuit when the tension of the yarn passing through said eye fails tohold the bridging plate away from said contacts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS384,934 Rush et a1. June 19, 1888 2,356,458 Holmes Aug. 22, 19442,512,428 Hutchins June 20, 1950 2,661,028 Siegel Dec. 1, 1953 2,746,490Hall May 22, 1956 2,788,025 Waterhouse et a1. Apr. 9, 1957

